FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2022

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Hispanic Federation Hosts Meeting with Biden Administration and Advocates to Discuss Progress in Puerto Rico

Unprecedented achievements but more needs to be done to address pressing disparities
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WASHINGTON – Hispanic Federation hosted a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, with senior Biden administration officials and hundreds of Puerto Rico advocates to acknowledge investments in Puerto Rico during President Biden’s first year in office and discuss urgent persistent challenges. The administration provided an overview of their achievements, including historic funding of Puerto Rico's infrastructure, education, health care, housing, and other sectors. Hispanic Federation and advocates celebrated the unprecedented investments and highlighted ongoing policy concerns, including the transition to renewable energy, denied equitable access to federal safety-net programs, an extreme financial crisis, and the need for equitable access to federal funds to achieve racial, economic, and climate justice. The parties expressed their shared interest in continuing their collaboration in implementing solutions that aid Puerto Rico's long-term recovery.

Participants from the Biden administration included Gene Sperling, American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the President; Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator to the President; Carmel Martin, Deputy Director for Economic Mobility, White House Domestic Policy Council; Gretchen Sierra-Zorita, White House Associate Director for Puerto Rico and the territories; Miguel Estien, Acting National Director for the Minority Business Development Agency at the Department of Commerce; Chris Soto, Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the Department of Education; and Rosanna Torres Pizarro, Senior Advisor for Puerto Rico at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The event also included special opening remarks from Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"The Biden administration quickly unlocked hurricane disaster funds and removed discriminatory barriers to access those funds put in place by the previous administration. We celebrate the many investments made and the steps taken to create a more collaborative and transparent relationship between the federal government and groups in Puerto Rico," said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation. "At the same time, we must acknowledge that Puerto Rico faces an ongoing economic crisis, unreliable infrastructure, and the highest poverty rates in the U.S. This has exacerbated the alarmingly high out-migration of families and professionals over the last decade. The root causes of these conditions go back more than a century and will take longer than one year to remedy. We look forward to continuing our work with Congress and the Biden administration, and we will continue to advocate for full parity in all federal safety-net programs and for the voices of the people living in Puerto Rico to take the lead in both crafting and implementing the solutions to these problems.”

“I know of no organization more effective in fighting for the beliefs you have in helping Puerto Rico and the Hispanic community than [Hispanic Federation],” Majority Leader Schumer said during the call. "Over the decades, one of my biggest fights has always been to treat Puerto Rico fairly … Which, all too often, the U.S. government has not done. But I am so glad we have the Biden administration because they have undone so many of the wrongs and worked so strongly with us to produce some change." He also highlighted the recently announced allocation by the Army Corps of Engineers of $163 million to dredge the Martin Peña Channel in San Juan.

White House officials outlined many of the gains made for residents of Puerto Rico in the past year. These include giving substantial tax and benefits parity for Puerto Rican families and workers in some programs, unlocking disaster recovery funds, providing historic relief through the American Rescue Plan, and delivering funds to repair Puerto Rico's aging infrastructure and improve public transportation through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Notable are the equitable inclusion of Puerto Rico families in the Child Tax Credit and the expanded federal investment in the Earned Income Tax Credit, which together, are estimated to provide $1 billion a year in tax relief for families and workers.

Gene Sperling, American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the President, spoke about the Child Tax Credit improvements that “were long overdue but delivered by President Biden.” He added, "half of all Black and Latino children did not get the full credit [be]cause their parents didn't make enough income. You can never wrap your head around that. If your parents aren't making as much income, that means they are struggling more than most working parents to care for their children. Now everyone [receives] the same amount… and that's true whether it's New York City, Anne Arbor, Michigan, or Puerto Rico.”

Hispanic Federation also invited advocates of three local organizations to raise questions on critical policy issues during a panel discussion. The organizations, Movimiento para el Alcance de la Vida Independiente (MAVI), El Puente, and Ponce Neighborhood Housing Services, asked about the strategy to achieve parity in Supplemental Security Income and other federal benefit programs, align existing federal infrastructure investments with Puerto Rico’s renewable energy goals, and ensure that local organizations, communities, and businesses have fair access to available federal resources. In their response, administration officials discussed a two-year study that will have extensive stakeholder engagement conducted by the Department of Energy and FEMA to ensure short-term recovery goals, create long-term energy resilience, and ultimately reach Puerto Rico’s renewable energy goals, which include achieving 100% renewables by the year 2050 in compliance with Puerto Rican law. Regarding equity in accessing federal funds, officials said that with respect to the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, they are looking for ways to reduce administrative burdens in federal funding processes by simplifying application processes, expanding technical assistance for low-income communities, and ensuring that grant recipients and contractors are using federal dollars to advance equitable outcomes involving local communities as participants in decision-making. There was no clear alternative path expressed for achieving parity in SSI and Medicaid federal benefits programs other than to recommit support for the passage of Build Back Better.

With more than 300 participants, the event included representatives from organizations across Puerto Rico and the U.S. diaspora. Attendees raised additional concerns, including climate change, the fiscal control board, solar taxes, gender-based violence, and decolonization. This is the Hispanic Federation’s second time bringing together top White House officials with Puerto Rico advocates. Hispanic Federation’s President Frankie Miranda also met with President Biden in August, where they discussed priorities for Puerto Rico. For more information on Hispanic Federation’s Puerto Rico advocacy campaign, please visit www.TakeAction4PR.org.